Held Up Panchayat Bills Force Telangana Sarpanch To Become Labourer For Survival

After the state administration failed to clear her pending debts, a woman Sarpanch in the Hanmkonda district in Telangana was compelled to work as a labourer. Due to government negligence, Vishwanath Colony, a new village panchayat formed three years ago in Bheemadevarapalli Mandal of Hanamkonda district, is currently experiencing a huge financial crisis.

Anitha Ramesh, the sarpanch, became a daily wage labourer to repay the loan and also look after her family. She and her husband both work as labourers.

The village authority halted payments for 'Palle Prakruthi Vanam' and 'Vaikuntadhama' projects from the previous two years. The government's Palle Prakruthi Vanam plan is to build village parks, while Vaikuntadhama is an endeavour to help individuals cremate their loved ones in a dignified environment with all the necessary amenities in every village across the state.

Telangana Woman Sarpanch Becomes Labourer

Anitha Ramesh is a member of the ruling TRS party, and in 2020 she was chosen as Sarpanch of the Vishwanath Colony. She said, explaining her financial situation as well as that of her hamlet, "The bills for Palle Prakruthi Vanam and Vaikuntadhama works that were carried out in the village are still pending with the district administration. Our village's financial position is so dire that we are unable to complete the little projects we have already begun. My personal financial situation is also dire."

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Anitha further stated that she borrowed Rs 8 lakh from private money-lender(s) on a monthly interest basis in order to complete the delayed Palle Prakruthi Vanam and Vaikuntadhama projects. Those who lent money started putting pressure on her to refund it because the administration was not clearing the bills. And because she has no other means of repaying the loan, she has begun working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

She stated that the state government provides panchayats with Rs 40,000 per month to cover salaries, power bills, and other expenses. "We sought authorities from the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Departments, requesting that they at the very least clear the unpaid debts. However, she received no response and requested the administration to clear the bills as soon as possible."

 (Feature Image: Representative)